Crisis at VW: Over 3,000 employees leave IG Metall!

Crisis at VW: Over 3,000 employees leave IG Metall!

The mood at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg is tense. While the company is struggling with a significant slump in sales - especially in the area of ​​electric cars - over 2,000 employees have decided to leave IG Metall. Loud news38 This number could even rise to as many as 3,000, which raises alarm bells. Dissatisfaction among employees is increasingly seen as a reason for this withdrawal from the union, which is not surprising given the recent collective bargaining and the uncertainties ahead.

The collective agreement, which guarantees job security until 2030, was able to avert factory closures and massive job cuts, but frustration remains. There are plans to cut 35,000 jobs. Even though IG Metall and the works council emphasize the current high level of organization of over 90 percent, the question of what impact the resignations will have in the short term on the union situation and the upcoming company elections is still open.

Collective bargaining in view

The collective bargaining, which took more than 70 hours, led to a comprehensive collective agreement, which resulted in massive protests by around 100,000 employees. In the negotiations, IG Metall was also able to achieve an increase of a good 5 percent for employees, which was, however, suspended for the time being. From January 2031, an increase in the pay scale of around 5 percent is also planned, while adjustments for 2025 and 2027 are also on the plan. IG Metall has therefore thrown a lot into the balance to secure jobs and the future of Volkswagen.

But the pressure on the automobile company is growing as the market is changing rapidly. The figures on electromobility speak for themselves: In 2022, around 471,000 purely electric cars were registered in Germany, which corresponds to a market share of 18 percent. This number shows that electric cars are not only very popular, but that the entire car market has stagnated - a circumstance that makes the situation at Volkswagen even more difficult. Loud nextmove The sales figures for VW's ID series, including ID.3 and ID.4/ID.5, are in the midfield, but given the overall situation, they are not sufficient to secure market leadership.

Competitive pressure and market environment

The competition never sleeps. While Volkswagen currently only has a 13 percent market share in the electric segment, Tesla leads the rankings with 15 percent. Other manufacturers such as Renault, Hyundai and Stellantis (Fiat, Opel) also have significant shares of the market. These developments make it clear that VW is required to reposition itself and become more innovative.

Overall, the situation at Volkswagen is more than tense and is causing concern and uncertainty among the workforce. The agreed collective agreements offer short-term stability, but long-term planning and the reaction to the growing electric car market remain challenges that must be overcome in order to win back the enthusiastic approval of the employees - and thus also the support of IG Metall.